Metal rolling mill



METAL ROLLING MILL Filed' June 7, 193;5 I 10 SheetS-Shet J.

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Feb. 4, 1936. J. ADAMS, JR 2,029,751

METAL ROLLING MILL Filed June '7, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 4, 1936. J. L. ADAMS, JR METAL ROLLING MILL Filed June 7; 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 I f Wil;

m m m m Feb. 4, 1936. J. L, ADAMS; JR I METAL ROLLING MILL 1o Sheets-Sheet: 4

Filed June 7, 1933 INVENTOR.

10 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. L. ADAMS, JR

METAL ROLLING MILL Filed June '7, 1935 INVENTOR.

Feb. 4, 1936.

Feb. 4, 1936. J. 1.. ADAMS, JR 2,029,751

METAL ROLLING MILL Filed June 7, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 A 1 QUE INVENTOR h w I Feb. 4, 1936. J L ADA R 2,029,751

METAL ROLLING MILL Filed June 7, 1933 l0 Sheets Sheet 7 244 243 239 I 334- LJ III 5 1 4i:

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METAL ROLLING MILL Filed me 7, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 i I 258 232 E 231! 1 we :2; M [4 230 F15. /6 KY 272 25 r Ha /Z 277 IN V EN TOR.

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J. L. ADAMS, JR

METAL ROLLING MILL Filed June '7, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Elk 2w- TIME PERPA 5:, 0R CIRCUH, uv 85c.

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J. L. ADAMS, JR 2,029,751

METAL ROLLING MILL Feb. 4, 1936.

Filed June 7, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 w I V I ii at high speeds in one direction,

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 f PATENT oF icE lVIETAL ROLLING MILL James L. Adams, Jr., Youngstown, Ohio Application June '3 ,1933, Serial No. 674,661

2'7 Claims. (01. Site-31.1)

e present invention relates broadly to the art of rolling metals, and more particularly to the rolling of endless-belt type plates from. ring ingots, whereby one mill, operating continuously after the insertion of eachv new ingot, or with an occasional reversal of direction if such should be preferred, can do the work now requiring a very considerable number of lower speed, more or less automatic, tandem-operated mills, to' accomplish in the same period.

leads to a very material simplification of total'equipment required, with a far more than proportionate out in total machinery cost, and in the total mill space requirements, for an equivaleiit output tonnage.

One of the prime objects of the present invention is to greatly cut the costs of rollingultra long plates and strips, by increasing the output tonnage from a single mill, and at the same time greatlydecrease the total number of mill stands required to carry out a given continuous rolling process,-such as is required for really high tonnage outputs. a

' Another object of further'cut plate and strip manufacturing costs, bythe substantial elimination of all ingot-cropping and plate fish-tailend-scrap losses, concomspeed, as' compared ing ring-ingots and producing very long endless itantly with the reduction of side-camber to an ultra 1ow,value, heretofore only attained comtandem'operated auside-shear scrap losses mercially in the expensive tomatic mills, whereby the reduce toa minimum. An object of first. importance is to provide a ,type of mill which may be operated at ultra high with usual mills, and with no time lost by reversals, or by the necessity of reent'eringthe plates inthe rolls, or of transferring them from one set of rolls to another pair by some form of shifting mechanism.

- us the total time taken for thejob of rolling will bereduced to the ultimate minimum, increasing the daily output tonnage, and at the same time completing each plate or strip before it has cooled ofi so much as has been-heretofore Z necessary in customary single-stand mills. This reduces materially the total work required of the mm, and increases the working life of its rolls.

' An added object is to provide a mill which can be operated either as a continuous belt-mill takbelt plates or strips, or as a regular two-high re-, versing mill producing fiat plates or strips from hot slabs, or as'a-mill for first rolling rings which All this without changes in the mill structure,

the present invention is to the possibility .of very are then cut and finished as flat plates or strips,

\ all in the same machine, and with but a very brief stop for the cross-cutting operation, without removing the plate from the rolls to do so.

thus giving a job-mill of very general utility, and which in some cases can be readily made over from present mills.-

An additional object is to provide a mill in which, by ultra-high operating speed, coupled with provision for inductive-electric, or for gas heating of the moving belt plate, the proper rolling temperature is maintained, thus permitting an entire rolling operation, from ring-ingot to moderately thin strip, to be carried out in one stage, without withdrawal from mill for re-heating purposes, and also permitting the rolling of certain alloy steels which require a very high rolling temperature to be maintained.

A further important object is to provide a highspeed and high-output mill, in which the full set-- up costs for every new job, and the roll main-1 tenance costs during normal operation, will be 5 far. less than those required for any automatic multiple-stand tandem continuous mill, where many rolls must be kept up, and must be altered to suit any special pass shapes being rolled, and where also the very considerable number of rolls, housings, feed mechanisms, and gear-drives, vastly increase the normal chances of a breakdown occurring, as compared with my singlestand mill. Another object is to furnish a means for delivering large endless belts or heavy rings of rolled steel'direct from themill, rea diameter tunnel linings,'boilers, tanks, penstock, sections, tubes, oil-cracking stills, and similar structures, with or without flanged edges 011C011;

plate, but greatly reducing the possibilities of hot- I scoring of its smooth surfaces.

Yet-another object is to permit the rolling of wide, thin sheets witha minimum of over-weight allowance, and of convexity, because of the higher general temperature of rollingmaintained, and v light loading of the nolls during the last two or three passes around the belt, so that little roll spring results.

.An added object of the present invention is to provide means iorspirally slitting an endless 5 dy for forming large 35 belts which may happen of said main-pit, and get pipewelding, since th provided.

- plate or sheet bands, or rings,

belt of rolled plate, either into squares or oblongs, or an ultra-long length in one continuous piece; or slitting into narrow bands, all before leaving the mill rolls, and all ready for immedicate hot-rolling or drawing into rods.

Another object is to providemeans for quickly cross-shearing a hot endless rolled belt, and running it out on the customary. live-roll tables, and with zero end-scrap loss, giving also an ultra-long plate for welding later into pipe. I r

Suchvery long plates e very desirable for end-losses during the welding will reduce to a much smaller percentage of the total sheet weight t is usual for the customary shorter plates made by rolling flat slabs.

Another object is to produce plates and sheets substantially free from scale, due to the very percentage of total elapsed time in which the plate is exposed to the open atmosphere, and away from the protecting-pit of hot inertgases -Yet another object is to provide my mill. with a separate scale pit, adapted to drain the scale from the main mill pit, and to take any broken to fall to the bottom them out of the way of further operations.

A very important object is to provide fon the first time commercially adequate and rugged means for attaining all one practical mechanism.

- My engineering designs indicate still other obiects of importance to be attained, and such will appear to anyone skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

with all the above and other objects in view, I have provided apractical means for accurately, expeditiously, and inexpensively rolling endlessof the above objects in nesses, widths, and formed-up contours, or flat, and in ultra long lengths, compared with present usual practices.

' Since proper centrifugal casting, and subsequent shaking, of a relatively wideand thinwalled ring-ingot, leads to the production of highly compacted, gas-free, and slagless metal, of more than usual uniformity of composition and 50, texture throughout, and substantially free from interior fpipes and cavities..as indicated in my co-pending application, Serial #649,181, filed 1228 1932, my present invention, which -preferably utilizes such ingots, is capable of producing long belts, or flat plates and sheets of metal, 1 ch are very substantially free from allof the v. lllstomary laminations, pockets, blisters, edgecracks, and non-desired inclusions, now all. too

- familiar tothe mill man.

Since .the usual continuous mills now known, contain many tandem stands of rolls, each of which must be very accurately driven at somewhatidifierent sustained speed than those on either side thereof, by complicated and expensive electrical or: other ultra-sensitive speed controls, these mills in the aggregate are very expensive pieces of apparatus, both to buy and to operate,

whereas my present invention, which gives a similarly. high tonnage output, from but a single stand of rolls, without any complicated inter-connected electrical speed-controls whatever, is vast-v ly'less expensive, with relativelyv very few parts,

. far lower roll set-up costs, much less chance of breakdown, lower renewal expense, and-occupies far less mill space.

The single-stand millalso has thexgreat of various thick- 1 advantage the meansvantage of far greater accessibility all' around'it, and since my mill preferably uses the ring-ingot, several times as much metal will be handled at one rolling, as in the flat-slab rolling machines, thus again economizing time, increasing output, and cutting manufacturing costs, and accentuating this still further by the total elimination of blooming-mill rolling costs. .In the accompanying drawings, I have shown, for purposes of illustration only, and not. as deter- 1 mining the limits of my invention, a preferred form of mill, and -two alternative forms of certain elements thereof, together with several closely associated appurtenances therefor, the complete assembly being adapted to facilitate the 1 vry rapid rolling of endless-belt plates or sheets,

the rapid insertion into the mill of the ringingots required therefor, and the quick delivery of the completed product, either in the formof an endless-band, or cut and opened-up to form a an ultralong flat plate, run out upon the customary live-roll tables of mill.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssection of my mill, taken transverse to roll axis, on the lines 1-1 of Figures 2 and 4, respectively, 2i in direction of the arrows, and indicating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section of mill proper,- and of roll-removing carriage, but showing the rolls in elevation, the section being longi- {II tudinal to roll axis, and, with the exception noted, taken on line IIII of Figure 1, again looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 shows a transverse cross-section of the roll-removing carriage, and also indicates the 36 top and withdrawn position of the plate-tightening drum or-loose-pulley mechanism I have provided, the section being taken on the line III-III of Figure 2, looking in the'direction of the arrows, and showing the clearance of said drum 0 or pulley. V,

Figure 4 shows mostly in elevation; but partially'in section, the two mill housings, with the moving elements of guillotine-shear, and the v duickly withdrawable shuttle-type blade-bar 4i therefor, indicated in position, as per line IV-IV of Figure 1, looking with the arrows, as before. I have here shown a piston-and-cyiinder type of shuttle operating means, although a motor, reduction-gear and connecting-rod connection -,5O might equally as well be utilized, if preferred,- Figure 5 indicates another vertical cross-sectional viewof my mill, taken on the line VV' of Figure 6, looking as indicated, and providing a similar, but more general view of; my entire inll vention, than is given inFigure' 1, since the later figure includes the pit structure underthe mill 4 proper, and the scale-pocket to the right there-. of.

This figure also shows the belt-plate tightening pulley pretty well advanced on its trip down into. the pit,'as the rolling progresses, and about ready for its return trip upto just below, and 'oif'to. one side of,-the lower mill roll.

Figure 6 is another vertical cross-section, taken at right angles to Figure- 5, as indicated by the line VI-VIan d the arrows thereon. This view shows in a general way, the means .provided for accurately guiding the plate-tightening pulley up- .ward and then sharply to the right, as it is pushed 7.

up. by the hydraulic plunger from below. and which is located in side wall of thepit.

Figure 7, similar to Figure 6, but taken on a. much enlarged scale, shows to'much better 841-" provided "to quickly raise. Tl

lower, and to withdraw and return the platetightening pulley or drum, as the rolling of each new ingot gets under -way. It also indicates the to centrally-position the hydraulic piston used, along its travel, and further soft-copper rolls used plunger of the very long at spaced points shows the vertical guide channel used to posiof Figure 8, looking with ing mechanism to tion the out-board end of pulley,

whipping in a horizontal planepassing in and and prevent its out of the paper, as the rolling progresses. Tins figure likewise shows the two guide channels extending off to the right, whi h are used in the withdrawal of the pulley f m the line of the rolling, after the completion of one ring-belt.

plate, and before the new ingotcan be inserted for the next. Figure 7 is taken on line VII-VII arrows.

Figure 8 represents a line VIII-VIII thereof, again in the direction of the arrows. This Figure 8 shows to better-advantage than thepreceding, how the soft metal guide-rolls surrounding the hydraulic plunger, but fixed in space, allow the pulley-head mountpass therethrough without well provided for the 8x and 8a are guide VIIIA andVlIIa of blocking it at all, in the hydraulic ram. Figures channel details per sections Figure 7.

Figures 9, 10, and 11, show two vertical sections transverse to each other, and a horizontal section, respectively, of the rough hot-gas-seal mechanism shown just below the slot leading to plunger well in Figure 8, Figure 11 being simply an enlargement of this detail in. the figure just mentioned. At the top of Figure 9, I have shown how these loose leaves move over to one side to permit the pulley carrying plate to pass in either direction, but promptly return to sealing position thereafter. This is just to keep most of the mill-pit heat out of the plunger well. The marked arrows in view directions.

Figure 12 is a vertical section taken similarly to Figure 1, but indicating in addition the driving mechanism used for the pit-top seal gates, which are lowered whenever a new ingot is to be entered in the mill, and .also showing how left hand and below the mill frame I moval on non-cut rings,

gate is swung to the extreme left to permit reif such happen to compose the order involved. I havealso indicated above, a right and a left hand automatic reversible motor-driven reeler, used to obtain further passes, made under tension after the cutting of the ring, if very thin sheets are required,

tion of ingress and egress of an automatic slitter used to cut the endless-belt plate either into narrower continuous belts, or into an extremely long spiral ribbon or square section. 1 Figure 13 is another vertical section, more or less similar to Figure 1, but showing as an alternative construction; a power-driven rotary type cross-shear, mounted to travel back and forth acrossthe belt-plate, at a point 'just below the I horizontal section of certain elements of Figure 7, taken on the offset these three figures show the have shown the posi-' XVII-XVII of Figure 16', -rehousings not readily adaptable to the guillotine type of shear first mentioned, as ure 1. r

Thus in the case of a brand new mill design, it can be readily adapted to the latter type of shear, but in changing-over-an already built mill to conform. to my invention, it may occasionally be necessary to use a shear of the rotary type.

Figure 16, in addition to the shear properand its traveling carriage, also indicates on the right, one form of propulsion for the latter, here a piston and cylinder, although a motor, large reduction gear, and a connecting-rod might be preferredin some cases. A similar mounting and propelling means may be applied to the travelling plate-clamp, Fig. 13.

, ingot edge-guide roll, shown without sectionalizing, and positioned to right or left by the long screw functioning over a sliding key in the bushing shown in section to the right, by the gear shown in section there. This limit-stop roll is shown in Figure 12 also; just to. the right of, and above centre of, lower rollof mill.

Figures 20 and 21 illustrate by transverse and longitudinal sections respectively, a type of internally water-cooled non-pufling roll which I prefer to use in-connection with the mill of my invention.

Figures 22 and 23 show side and end elevations, respectively, and taken in the directions of the arrows, of an automatic ingot-carriage adapted to run in under the right hand live-roll table of my mill, without disturbing the latter, and to lift up into place in line with the lower mill roll, a hot ring-ingot such as I use with my .roll table, in same Figure 22, without any alterations of structure being required in either case. But-since this ingot-buggy has been made the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial #652,l42,'flled January 17th, 1933, it will not be elaborated upon further herein, being shown simply to complete the general picture of my mill, and indicate the latters applicability to the rolling of either ring-ingots or flat-slabs, or both, in any order of succession required.

Figure 24 gives in compact chart form, some operational data on my mill, but for one size of ingot only, so as to not make the presentation too complex.

Figure 25 indicates in perspective elevation a rolled plate belt which has been parted into nar-' row'continuous bands, and Figure 26 a similar 'view of a rolled endless-belt which has been slitted into an ultra-long continuous spiral rib bon, oblong, or square, as mentioned previously in connection with Figure,12.

Figure 27 shows a vertical section of the lefthand live-roll table of Figure 1, taken on the 'line XXVII-XXVII thereon; and looking with the arrows. This table has to be of the lifting type, if endless bands or heavy rings are to be rolled in the mill, so as to provide means of egress therefor. The right-hand live-roll table, however, as indicated in Figure 23, at top, may, be stationary, and simply built of over-hanging type, tov permit ingot carriage to run in thereunder from the front, or open side. In case a reeler is required over the left-hand or swinging shown in Figlive-roll table, as in Figure 12, this reeler will be on a long sliding-base, with motor to move it back away from plane of the drawings, whenever rings are to be rolled and removed as such, which 5 will probably not be very often, since most of the belts will be cut open and run onto the top of this table, except in very special orders. In accordance with the,'present invention, and

Power-driven means for operating the twin pit-gates30, 3|, and 32, 33, is shown by the connecting-rods 52, 53, at right, but the functioning means -'will be explained more fully in connec- 75 tion with a later figure.

In all the figures identical parts are indicated by the same part numbers. I

Referring now to Figure 2, new parts not previously identified comprise the main roll-neck theithrust roller-bearings 56,

threaded ring-nuts 58.

referring more particularly to.Fig'ure 1, there At the right end of lower roll, I provide the 1 may be provided an apparatus including a spaced similarly stepped chock 59, and bush 68, with pair of roll housingsv I, mounted upon the shoes the stepping carried out. in the same direction 2, and carrying the power-driven mill rolls 3 and as before, but on slightly increased diameters,

- 4, of which the lower one 3 is removable endso as to permit-the ready withdrawal of roll 3 wise from the mill, while the upper roll 4 is and lefthanfld circular chock 56 therethrough, 1.

' mounted in roller bearings carried by the sliding without disturbing said bush-68, seated in frame chock 5, inturn depressed by the customary or housing IA. Roll-removing carriage'is indiscrew-down 6, operated by worm-wheel llflzated cated at 6 I, carrying the flanged wheels 62, 63, 64, within the gear-casing 1, meshing with a worm and 66, running on track 86 forming an integral on shaft 8, actuated by areversing motor, (not part of the base 61. Carriage 6| is bolted solidly 24 shown). Long tension-bolts 9 extend down beto chock 59, in which roll 3 is longitudinally posihind the housing to bosses on side of chock-5, tioned firmly by :the heavy th eaded n u 5 I into which thesebolts are screwed, after passing drawn up lightly against or near the thrust-bean through the long "compression springs I8, resting. ing on this roll-neck, and. locked by usual means.

25 on pads on housing I, and thus tending to lift Carriage 6| is shuttled back and forth from 25 the chock 5 and the upper roll, whenever screw left to right, by the arms 69, mounted to oscillate 6 is backed up toward top of mill, as accords with in the bearing blocks 16, bolted to base 1|, and usual practice. On the left I have shown a thrown by connecting-rod 12, revolvably carried guillotine shear blade and mounting bar II, operon end of crank-pin 13, attached to large gear ated by the eccentric-strap I2, carried by the 14, on shaft 15, in tln'n actuated by appropriate 30 r roller-bearing I3, on eccentric I4, inturn mount--, motor and control to give approximately 180 ed onshaft I5, carried by suitable brackets on rotation at a time, as determined by the limitthe housing I, and in its turn rotated by the large stop contents 16 for right-hand travel, and 11 gear I6,-driven'1by pinion ,I1, on shaft I8, carfor left throw of arm 69, which is attached to ried by the bearing I9, on same housing, and all carriage 6| by means of the oscillatable link 18. 5.

functioned by a motor of usual make, (not The outboard roll-centering bearing 19 is carshown), with the customary contactor and limit ried in the housing 80, attached to carriage 6| in switches required to give a one turn rotation any appropriate manner, which latter also cardrive to gear I6. A longitudinally slidable bladeries the automatically functionable band-brake 40 bar carrying the removable lower or stationary 8|, designed to prevent any angular shift of roll 4 blade of guillotine shear, is shown at 20, while whilelt is out of the mainmill housings. -To the at right of mill I have indicated an over-hanging left of Figure 2, I have shown the usual driving type of entering live-roll table 2|, on'the left spindles 82 and 83, in line with upper roll 4 the upwardly swinging hinged live-roll table'22, and lower roll 3, respectively, and carrying the with both tables assumed to be driven by the customary flukes84 and 85, inserted within the 45 usual reversing motors, (not shown). coupling-boxes 86.? h n Place y the 1151181 Track for ingot-carriage is indicated at 23, aretaining blocks 88, 89, retained by the customary ring-ingot in place 'on roll is shown at 24, a stripiron band, (not shown). j per bar at 25, a partially rolled ring at 26, the- ,A fr e y runnin s v or th r b a ng s.

- latter after further rollingat 21, and an endlessshown at 98, longitudinally retained by the thrust 50 belt plate at 28, passing down into the heated col ars 9 a d push d upwa d by red 9 atpit whose wall is shown at 29, surmounted by tachedto one endof balancing-bar 93, revolubly the twin gates 30 and3I, on right, and 32, 33 oh mounted in bearing-block 0n t concrete left, in turn mountedupon the shafts 34, 35; 36, base 95,,and carrying n th r en he fr r lle 31, respectively mounted in ,the bearing-blocks 96, running in and O a d p d pocket in 55 3a and as, and attached at rear ends to the cranksprin 91-, attached o base 95 at point e T .arms 40, 4|, and 42, 43, of which 48and 42, a intermediate'radius 011' bar 93 is nounted the eyewell as 4|, 43 are connected together by the bolt 9 passing through the str g c p cross-connecting rods 44 and 45, respectively, p in positioned y h P p r y ill each having the slot 46, or .41, at left-hand end, to Strap W a t adiust ng nut drawn p permit 32 an d33 to be moved further to the left taut unt th Sp n j s balances t e Weight whenever a rolled. ring is to be removed intact of p dl 33 and its directly associated Ph without cutting, but not otherwise; which are retained in approximately central posi- I Normal directions of feed, and rolling areintion by the roll 96, seated in its depression in fiat dicated by arrows, although all motors for.such spr Whenever r0113 i ov d f om the 65 purposes are preferably made reversible, mill, and thus facilitating the re-entrance of the emergenciesand for occasional reversing well-roundedflukes |I|3 on left endw'f roll 3, Slightly oscillatable aprons are shown at.-4 49, into the also well rounded ,opening incouplingand 56, while the position of arfiat plate being box 81, whenever roll is re-entered into the mill.

runthrough the mill is indicated at 5|. The removed position bf belt-plate tightening pulley or drum is indicated at I04, this device carrying the projecting nose I85, loosely fitting into the vertical channel I06 on left side of pit or well whose wall is indicated at 29, while it is itself mounted .upon the heavy vertical plate 'new parts as follows:

I01, only part of which can be shown in this figure. y Referring now to Figure 3, there will be found the guide-rolls I 08, stepped to two diameters as shown carried on the mountingpins I08, and running. along the guide-channels I I0, in turn carried by the support II I, which may be integral with bearing-block 10, if de:-

K to band-brake and all functioned by the roller I I5, running more companion roll sired.

Above, there is shown the band-brake operating lever II2, pivotally mounted upon bracket H3, carried by carriage GI, and flexibly attached 8I at the swivel connection H4,

or less horizontally along the cam-track, H8, bolted to the stationary base I31, and properly profiled along the roll cozitacting surface, to tighten up the band-brake I as soon as a start is made to withdraw the roll 3 from mill, and to release said roll turn travel into the main mill housings.

This is in order to make doubly sure that the respective flukes I03 will re-enter the coupling box 81 on every return of the roll.

In Figure 4, in addition to parts already enumerated, there is found the bearing-block II1 for the main shear shaft I5, also the blade II8 on guillotine, and blade III! of the lower bladebar 20, while on the'left there is the supporting tube I20, mounting the operating cylinder I2I,

further supported by the side bracket I22 which base. said cylinder blade-bar 20 I24, the right hand end or nose ,of blade-bar 20 being made well tapered toward the bottom side, and 'somewhat rounded off upon extreme end in order to promote easy entrance into housing IA, the wearblade I25 being inserted to make certain the entrance of bar 20 within the belt-plate, as this blade I25 is also sloped back to a wedge-end in near contact with roll 3.

In Figure 5, new parts requiring mention are, the very long, vertical hydraulic cylinder I26,

goes down to concrete of mill containing piston I23, functioning located, in well to rear of pit I21, which latterl.

slopes down to one side to form the scale-pocket I28, reachable from above by crane-cable I29, carrying the grab-bucket I30,. operating preferably in the small auxiliary well I3I,- topped by suitable doors I32. Opening into the main millpit I21, is a gas or other heater I33, here shown as supplied by the fuel pipe I34, and the air pipe I345, properly valved by usual means, and therefore not shown.

Plate tension-drum I04 has here been shown also at a lower position I04", within the pit, I21. In Figure 6 this tension-drum has been further shown in its extreme upper and sidewise withdrawn position I04, and such prime markings will be used hereafter for other parts when shown in this same uppermost-and withdrawn position.

This Figure 6 also shows as new elements, the second and lower guide-channel I35, similar to H0, but with certain parts reversed, as shown in a later figure, so that the guide-roll I36 and its I361 on rear end of same axis will enter it readily, whereas they will not follow IIO on up at all, while the guide-rolls I08, I31, I38,

and their respective companion rolls on rear ends of same shafts, will readily enter and follow IIO, but not I at all, so that. I08 is eventually carried well off to the right of original vertical position, but I31 and I38 remain in the vertical channel as they do not rise high enough tmreach the turn, and thus they always serve to centre in the last 1" or so of its re- This plunger I38 operates through a gland I4I,

in top of cylinder I26, on the application of suitable hydrostatic'pressures thereto, as through the pipe I42, and suitable valves, (not shown, as being .of ordinary type), and rises within the small side-well I43, connected with the mill-pit I21 by the/very narrow slit'l44 only, in which the heavy steel plate I01 slides'freely, carrying the drum I04. Motor I45, onthe right, functions the gear or worm-wheel 14, and through it the connecting-rod 12, and arm 58, located above the side-pit I48 into which the drum I04 withdraws to position I04 at the extreme top end of its travel, while a long link I41, connecting axes of, trails I08 and I31", is also shown, together with the long right-angularly. mounted arm I48, solidly bolted to, drum supporting 'plate ;I01, by

the means I48.

Referring to Figure 7, it should be noted that it is a section taken just back of the front guidechannel IIO, between it and the guide-rolls I08 and I35, the precise line, of which was difficult to show on Figure 8.-

Continuing under Figure '1, the function of arm I48, and the link I41, and also of the new link I50, pivoting'above at pin I5I, in the arm I48. .and below at pin I52, in plunger-head I40, in aiding drum I04 to move over to the right to its I04 position, becomes evident, the final or withdrawn position being indicated for all the parts by the addition of a prime to the regular part number concerned in each case.

As the plunger I38 is then later retracted, I04 quickly moves over toward the left to its I04 position, where all the parts are shown in full lines, and then the whole unit moves down together to.

the lower levels required in the pit, and with I04 I held firmly in the horizontal position throughout.

.A' cold-air inlet is shown at C. A. I., with small motor-driven blower at M. B.

Other new parts first to be found in this figure are, the back guide-rolls I53, mounted'upon arm' I48, and the soft-metal plunger-guide-rolls I54, the mounting of which latter will be indicated in the succeeding figure.

In Figure 8, additional parts consist of guidechannel I55, for rolls I53; supporting brackets I56, for soft rolls I54; the loosely-pivoted heat-- 5 plunger I38, without interference with other parts, so that as many of these rolls as desired may be spaced along the line of travel of the very long, and otherwise insufficiently aligned plunger just mentioned.

In Figures 8A and 83 no new parts appear requiring identification. In Figure 9, the.pivot-pins for seal plates I51- are shown at I88, and the side-channel or slot in which such plates ope'rate,-is indicated at I69, while their mode of recession and return as plate I 01 passes up and down, is indicated at top.\

In Figures 10 and 11, no new parts appear which require identification.

Referring now to Figure 12,.a means for pulling the swingingtwin-gates 32 .and 33 still fur- 15 'ther to the left to about thelimit positions 32' propelling means being and 93', after hinged live-roll table 22 has been lifted up out of the way, is shown at I10, I1 I, the preferably a motor and revolution reduction gear, similar to that to "be described a little later on, forthe normal upand-down motion of both sets of gates, but omitted in the case of the connecting rods I and I1I,- because of space limitations on the drawlugs, and because these latter. rods can be moved over in unison, thus utilizing ments, not appearing in my claims. This further swing of these left hand gates only, is to provide for the withdrawal of endless rolled belts or rings from the whenever such appear on a customers order, and the lost-motion links 46 and 41 respectively, twin-gates 30, 3I, 32, 33, are indicated at I12, I13,

have been provided to permit the added gate travel, whenever required.

It will be noted that arms 42 and 43 are keyed to shafts and 31, so as to bring gates 32 and 33 to the full-line positions shown Suitable counterweights for the I14, and I15, back in a Mounted upon a heavy pin I16 attached to left respectively, these being preferably I11, suitably attached. at. its lower end to the 50 already mentioned, so as to whenever guillotine II rises toward swinging apron lift the latter its upper position, as it is shown in the process tangled with said guillotine.

of doing in e figure. This is to prevent plates emerging from rolls 3, 4 from getting en- Fitting within an arcuate recess on right side of blade-bar 20, but

in no wise connected there 'th, is the lower swingingaapron I18, pivoted at its left centre so that it may rise to the I18 position, into' contact with upper mill 4, or approximately so, by any usual means (not shown). It will be noted that right-hand swing-apron 49, may be raised simi- .roll is shown at I19,'mounted.upon the end of long adjustable stud I80,

which will appear more in detail in a later figure.

Ring sidegl'.l ide plates are shown at I8I, IBIA, and I82, provided with screw-adjustment studs the pins I93, the magnet rolls'to the live-roll table I03 to I 88 respectively, passing through housing I so as to permit adjustment from the outsidethereof. At I09 I have shown a powerful electro-magnet, with all projec'ting corners well rounded off as'indicated at I90, and associated with a similarly rounded heavy metal-bar I 9|, from which depends the heavy pivoted-link steel'chain I92, articulated by so that if required it can peel off toward the lower mill rollv 3, whenever a plate gripped between said magnet and chain is being drawn up from the pit and out through the mill 22, at the left, after such plate 20 has been cross-cut by the shear II, or equivalent means. It will be noted that plate at the time it must be sheared, so thatmagnet must be powerful, and able to.'firmly grip; the heavy steel chain, even' through-the interposed thickness oi non-magnetic plate. This has been calculated out and foundto be entirely within the usual safe limits. Magnet I 89, bar I 9| and chain I 92, are all mounted 0i" a carriage which can be quickly'thrust well known elefor the latter,

. in the long pedestal 208; ,side motor 209, on the 3. and constituting the but without much loss of the pit heat machinery and room space above. A later halfrevolution reversal of gear 205, as per d'otted an I89 andback' through the arc I94 through the opening I95, in housing I, or retrieved therethrough, by any convenient piston or motor actuated means, such as that shown for bar 20,

in Figure 4, for example, andindicated' by the part-numbers I20 to I24, inclusive.

As I89-I9I will have to carry from 5,000 to 10,000 pounds of plate weight, possibly,-it is preferable to enter a nose on the end thereof into the remote housing IA, just as in case of bar 20, to give added support.

Below housing I, and a little to right of its centre-line, I have provided the additional opening I96, through which, by means similar to that just cited, the-slitter frame I91, whichprojects well out beyond its carrl'age I99, mounted upon the wheels I99, and tracks 200, may be projected within'the mill and between the housings I, Is,

whenever required for plate slitting or spiralcutting purposes.

The power driven rotary slitting-cutters are shown at 20I, 202, these being'mounted within the long, projecting horse-shoe shapedmountings 203, 204, the plate-entering ends of which are deeply V-shaped or beveled-01f as indicated by the shading, so as to permita'eaiv and certain entrance over the plate-edge, without any hesitation. Cutters 20I, 202 are slightly. drawn apart during this entering operation, and then closed down upon the plate, but as the means. for accomplishing this motion is not covered bymy present claims; it will not be here, only enough being-shown to illustrate the general application of a longitudinal slitter to my mill. v

At right'of figure, a large reduction gear 205 is mounted upon shaft 206, bearing on itsopposite outboard ends the o angularly spaced crank -arms 201, and 2015, all carried by bearings which is mounted alongcommon base 2I0, and

which motor carries the pinion 2| I, meshing with the gear 205. Crank-arms 201, 201A, mount the "crank-pins 2I2, 2I3 which, for a half revolution in counter-clockwise direction, ofthe gear 205,

and through connecting rods 52, 53, carry down move to the points 212' and 2I3', 'respectivelyf45 first the gates 30 and 32, to their 30" and 32".

positions, respectively, then following with the upper gates 31, 33, to the 3|" and 33" positions shown therefor. This closesofi the pit top, ready for entrance of ingot-carriage-along track 23, into the row, restores these gates to the position for rolling a new ingot and plate-belt, again without material loss of pit contained heat. Above the live-roll tables 22 and 2|, I have shown theipow er-driven reeler drums-2I4, M5, to left and to right, respectively, mounted on the heavy shafts 2I5, 2", carried by thepedestal bearings 2I8, 2| 9, each drum containing the automatic plate grip 220 or 2 2I, firmly gripping the two ends'of plate or sheet 222, while tension may be applied to either trailing drum by the brake 223, or 224, for the two reelers respectively, which are mounted. slidably upon the bases 225,225, so that the entire. unit can in each case be withdrawn back from the plane of the paper, whenever no reeling is to be done, as in the case of the thicker sheets and'plates. ,A cradle for the live-roll transport of a fully reeled sheet is shown at 221,'but as these parts may be included in a later patent application, they will not be further elaborated upon means for cross-shearing the belt-plate, the insertible rotary-shear structure 228,,co'nsisting of a more or less horse-shoe shaped heavy frame, well beveled away at points 229, for. easy entrance upon the plate, and conta'ning the two rotary cutters 238, 23 I, power-driven by the chain drives 232, or equivalent means, and capable of quick insertion'through and return via the opening 233,

" just below or even possibly within the housing l,

the inserting means being similar to that already described in connection with the blade-bar 28, of Figure 4, under items I28 to I24, inclusive, or their equivalent.

Several of the openings 233, 233A, 2333, and so forth may be provided, if desired, in one of which 228 may be placed to operate, according to the ring diameter then being rolled, as 21, 21A, etc., or I may elect to provide where it will not interfere' with other elements, a swinging arm 234,

mounted upon shaft 235, in bearing-block 236,

shear mechanism and carrying at its extreme end the loose roller 231. Arm234 may be pivotally connected-at 238, to connecting-rod 239, attached to crank-pin 248, on large reduction gear I, carried by shaft 242, and in turn driven by small pinion 243, mounted on shaft 244 of anappropriate motor, (not shown), and all used as a means for forcing the rolled ring 21,, or 215; downand over to-the right, until it can be easily entered upon by the 228. For belts which are drawn taut by the drum I84, as it goes down to final I84" position, arm 234 will not be" required.

In every case, before cutting open a belt-plate, it should be firmly clamped just below the shearing means, as by the clamping jaws 245, 246, which are run in from back of the housing I, by means similar to that already cited in connec tion with shear 228, and the open jaws then closed down as indicated by the small arrows, and by any well known means, such as a motor driven toggle-joint, for example, so as to clamp the plate firmly before shearing, ingress and egress being through the opening 241, to rear side of mill, which open'ng may be repeated to the if desired, as at 241A and 241s,

and 2333, if necesleft of that shown, so as to accommodate 233A, S y- As a second alternative plate cutting means, I

have indicated an air-tube 248, containing the v smaller gas-tube 249, and mounting the oxydicated at to base will be indicated acetylene burner, or burners 259,-ali of which may be progressed slowly across the sheet by piston or equivalent means, similar to that previously cited, and then rapidly withdrawn back into or through the wall of housing I, after the cutting,

Figure 14 shows new parts comprising the tailend sprockets 251- and 252, with their appropriate shafts mountedin the U end of frame 229, while a chain-clamp-enveloping both chains 232 is in- 253, with clamping-bolt 2 54, mounted of rodr255, whose attachment in a later figure. A piston-rod for propulsion of carriage 228 is shown at 258, while 251 indicates one of the four mounting wheels of latter carriage.

. Chain-housings of thin metal are indicated at 258, left and right hand mill-pit limit lines are shown at 259 and 269, respectively, or about the belt-plate width. Figure 15, guiding-and the wheels 251 are shown at at projecting end track channels for there is found the in turn driven by shaft be positioned on each parts 3A, 28lc, and 282.

the rollof my invention, so

28!, mounted on clamping-bolt 284, tapped into metal base'285,

made arcuate to match262. g

In Figure 16, a vertical pedestal integral with sub-base 262 is shown'at 286, firmlybolted to bar 255 at 261, this pedestal also supporting the long hydraulic cylinder 288, enclosing appropriate piston, (not shown), for actuating the rod Figure 17 contains no new parts requiring further identification, but in Figures 18 and 19 heavy threaded stud 289, which may recede into recess 218 in the millhousing I, and which stud is carried by the internally threaded heavy thrust bushing 21l, which is also threaded part-way on outside for spur-gear 212, keyed to bushing by the threaded and lock-washered bolt 213, while bushing end is carried within the stifi mounting frame 214, 215, bolted together and to housing I by heavy bolts 216,'and long key-slot 211 in stud 2.69 is slidably keyed to frame 214 by the long key 218 shown in Figure 19 only, which latter also shows a driving-pinion 219, meshing with gear'212, and

280, of any suitable motor. One of these longitudinally adjustable studs, mounting guide-roll I19, will preferably side of the mill, close to edge of the material.

In Figure 20, a composite mill-roll for rolling circular ingots 24, is made ms of a heavy, ultrahard, special alloy-steel outer shell 3A, a plurality of heavy, heat-equalizing copper cylinders 2811i, 28ls, with one or more intermediate steel shells 28k; interposed, and all pressed tightly within shell 3A, and over the inner forged or cast-steel shaft 282, which may or may not be drilled through at 283, for water-return from the within-roll end of stationary, concentric water-supply tube 284.

Figure 21 show this tube 284 as centralized by the outside support 285, and as located inside of the partlength multiple layers of metal tube 286, provided for further longitudinal heat equalization purposes, while the extreme left end of the drilled hole through shaft is plugged up by the means 281, and the roll-driving flukes are indicated by dotted lines 288. The opposite end of roll-shaft proper 282 therewith, or in some cases it may consist of a shaft extension 289; 298' to fit corresponding thread in shaft 282, and held firmly in place by a longitudinally drilled key, or' the lock-washered bolt means 29l, while the extreme outer end is threaded at 292 for plug bushing 293, whose end-surface 294 may be made arcuate to take the spherical face of a carbon, graphite, or other slip-joint for water return connection, (not shown). The copper rings 28IA and 28h; may be well riveted over into the bevels 295A and 2953, provided around ends of The mill-rolls, which results in considerable differences in thickness across the'width of plates being rolled, is not due to roll temperatures encountered, per se, but to differences in temperature along the roll face, and radially inward therefrom, which also co-incidently introduce tremendous longitudinal breaking strains in axial portions of any one-piece that the latter may typeof roll, but not in may be in one piece 7 coarsely taper-threaded at be water-cooled internallywithout injmy, if so shells. constitute transpaths, from desired, The copper verse heat equalizing as good in heat-conducting ability. as equivalent 8 to; 15 times massesof steel-alloyparts, and the layers introduce a multiplicity of joints, giving radial heat obstruction. v

metal layers 200, within drilled 'I'he tubular hole .233, may also be used to shade and help equalize the heat abstraction by' the cooling water, since multiple layers of thin metal form sheets.

.gears 299,-and all running either on the track 23 entering in under the live-roll table 2|, or on the higher track 23"extending out to right from extreme end of table 2| only. A ring ingot 24 is carried by the rollers 300 and 3M, the former ofwhich is slowly rotated by appropriate gears 300A, drivenby main gear train' so as to prevent cold spots in the ring in transit, and both rolls up to the 303' 24', ready for live-roll train 301,

I to extreme right of mitre-gears 3 l3, 3 II,

are carried by the projecting am 302, back of which is the raisable cantilever-arm 303, functioning around the ads 304, and pressed down on its right hand end by the oscillating cylinder and piston 305, until said cylinder is in 305" position, and connecting-point 300 on end of piston has moved down to 300', forcing opposite end of arm position," and with it the ring'24 to re-insertion of the mill roll as indicated by dotted-line circle 3A.

* Top face of carriage 296 is composed of the functionable in the direction of rotation indicated, so as to run flat slab 308; on to left when carriage is delivering such slabs end of table 2|, via track 23 Stiii cross-beams between the rolls of table 2| are shown at 309;

As indicated in Figure 23, th'se cross-beams 303 have side projections at t outboard-end 3l0, supporting' roll 2| in the bearing-block 3| I, the roll being carried at oppositeend by similar block 3| 2, beyond which on roll shaft is the pair thelatteron shaft 3| 5, mounted by abearing attached to the projecting ,foot 3|0, integral with beam .309, and all mounted upon base 3". r

On other side of pit, a supporting bracket 3|8 carries the insulated and inverted third-rail'3l9, the spring actuated shoe 320,

contacted with by for supply of electric power to the ingot-carriage, this shoe being of course well insulated from frame.

Preferably this third-rail should have been placed on.right side of pit, however, and with obvious alterations of structure. Ordinarily the slab 303 will not be present, when carriage 293' is run in under the mill, 2! be present when track 23' is being utilized, as

for the delivery of hot slabs.

This automatic ingot-carriage 29.6 has been shown in orderto complete the pictur'ization' of my mill and its associatedmechanisms, but since this carriage has been made the sub ect of a sep-. arate application for U. S. Patent, under Serial 1933, itwill not be spiral slitting by my covered by separate application previously re-- .signed' for exactly ontrack 23; nor will ring 1 part of the total process, so as best to shorten up the total rolling time, and tend to power input withina desired range of values. This can not be done with the multi-stand continuous mill, for the ratio of speeds among the various stands must be substantially fixed, once the by the longitudinal exeach set of rolls, and the rolling gets under way, tensions of the sheet at more lightly loaded rolls can not be speeded up as much as desired, without throwing tremendous overloads upon the more heavily-worked stands, and their motor-driving equipment.

In Figure'25, a wide continuous belt-plate similar to 28 of Figure 1, is shown after peripheral slitting, as by the cutters 20|, 202, of Figure 12, into narrow continuous bands 32L Figure 26 shows the same belt-plate 20 after spiral slitting mechanism, as

ferred to, and producing the ultra-long spiral single strip 322, which may be run out ontothe reeler 2| 4 shown on Figure 12, as the slit ng p ocoeds.

InFigure 27, the inter-roll beam 323, instead of being made integral l5, running in a heavy bushing attached to base 32 320 being integral with the counterweight 329, so that both 323 and 329 are appropriately controlled to swing roll 22 to about and return later on the 22' position and stop,

when required to the full line position 22,

Withroll in the 22' position, counter-weight moves to position 329", andfarm 33| may be derevolution steps, if so desired. v

Supplementing the description given in connection with Figure 4, it may benoted that the of this bar to the left. or withdrawn position, as soon as gear l6 has made a single revolution and stopped, under-the action of its own contact points connected to the shunt coil of gear-motor controlling contactor. Similar contact means 'will be utilized to make use in my preskeep the horse- 45 functioned by the connecting-rod 330, attached certain that mill is stationary, and motor con-' 'trols open, before either the guillotine or the may beallowed tofunction.

I Like contact meanswill be provided to cause release of plate clamp jaws 245, 246, of Figure 13, and to cause the recession of carriage mounting these jaws back within the base under housing I, before interference can'develop'as drum I04 is raised up from bottom of the pit, and also to prevent insertion of these jaws under the mill rolls again, until said drum has passed the 241 ger of fouling therewith.

Similar safety provisions will be made forpreventing entrance of slitter I91, or of magnet parts I89 to I92, also of ingot-carriage 296; and for the swing of table 22, of Figure 27, or the gates to 33 of Figure 12, until such times'as will obviate interferences developing with other moving parts. As all these contact means will be simple duplications of parts 16 and 11 of .Figure 2, they have not been repeated on the other drawings, in order not to clutter up the sheets with repeat sketches, particularlyas the type of con-.- nections used is well known in the art. In the I aggregate, however, these devices tend to make 30' the operation of my mill substantially fool-proof, so far as possible interferences are concerned.

I am perfectly aware that many disclosures have been made heretofore, covering the rolling of rings or hands, but if an attempt is made to apply these disclosures to the production of an. actually commercial mill, it is found that many important elements which are absolutely 'essential to a really comprehensive and satisfactory ,design,.are either entirely missing, or abortive in their showing; or develop interferences with other parts, when assembled in a complete inill design. I have attempted to remedy these deficienciesand provide a commercially operable continuous belt mill, retaining the very important inherent advantages'accruing to this type of machine.

Thus I am able to readily provide for the commercial rolling of eitherring-ingot's or flat-slabs, in one and the same machine, and to deliver) either large diameter rolled belt-rings, or very long flat plates, or sheets, and to accomplish various cross-cutting, slitting, spiral cutting, an-

nealing, and delivery operations thereon, whereby a wide diversity of product is assured, at high output tonnagesper diem, from-a single-stand mill running at high speeds, so that the rolling may be accomplished at high-rolling tempera tures and therefore with less destructive strain upon the metal than is usual 'in other mills, and

, further reductions accomplished under initial heat than is customary, while provisions have been made for retaining or even increasing the plate temperature during the actual rolling, if

- desired; and for keeping the belt taut during such rolling, as this accentuates the reductions possible to attain at a single rolling. Such tension operation is not claimed as new, however, as it seemsto have been first definitely provided for 'by Cox, in U. S. Patent #600,359, of

Many of .the'reference's show overhung-types of rolls, which are eminently suited to insertion or withdrawal of ring-ingots or belts, but are hardly considered a commercial type of roll for the prductionof really i ii'lielt-plates, under regular mill-conditions, becauseof working flexure, roll-fracture, and roller-bearing shortcomings in the single roll-neck utilized for bearing purposes here.

Thus many of the references which might be cited show some one or more of the features contemplated by me, but leaving much that is'wanting in regard to the satisfactory commercial operation of the whole, as a complete mill assembly.

For ring-ingots weighing from 8,000 to 15,000 pounds, for example, the horizontal types of tensionmechanism become impractical altogether,

as it? is highly desirable that the outgoing and return sides of the belt do not contact with each other at all, since hot-metal surfaces in highspeed rubbing contact score up. badly, and ruin the plate surfaces for many usual purposes.

None of the references available show a really commercial means for getting a tension drum inserted within a gradually enlarging belt-plate.

made from a heavy ring ingot, of the type I very much over-sized ball bearings of temperature resistant steel, sov that they can be operated dry, in the heated-area. My invention also contemplates means whereby the heating of the belt during rolling shall not imply devices which seriously interfere with theinsertion of the successive new ingots, or the delivery of cut belt-plates from the mill, or the withdrawal of "endless rolled 20 contemplate, and for the proper withdrawal of ring-belts, if desired. I prefer to retain very large percentages of burnt or inert gases within v the heated top portions of my mill-pit, soas to greatly reduce the normal amount of scale p'roduction during rolling, it being evident that the ring-belt emerges into contact with normal, at:

mospheric gases for only, a brief moment as jit pass'es over the lower mill roll, and furthermore, that the number of cold rolls with which it comes into contact in each circuit around the mill; is reduced to the very ultimate minimum, inwide distinction to customary flat plate rollin practice, where it meets a multiplicity of cold metal roll surfaces, and water-sprays, all of which greatly reduce the rolling temperature, and prohibit high ultimate reductions, at the same time vastly increasing the work of rolling.

, On customary mills the scale loss, although only about 1 to 2% of the metal rolled, yet totals a tremendous annual aggre ate, where a mill is in continuous operation, because of the great tonnages handled. A large fraction of this I propose to save, by the means just indicated,

'and amounting to from $20,000 to $50,000 or more per annumfor a large mill in continuous operation, if this were possible.

The belt-plate also eliminates the customary fish-tail cropping losses, often amounting to Qf the scrap produced.

' ingot, thus again opened out flat,

self-evident to trimming loss'in customary flat-rolled plates.

The use of centrifugally cast and jarred" ring-ingots results in extremely dense, clean, gasless, and solid metal, free from non-metallics, and eliminating the usual 12% to "15% or more "cropping loss, common to the -usua1.straight .cutting the total cost, and increasing the quality of plates produced by the apparatus of my invention.

Since ring-belt plates can be rolled to about 3 times thelength and tonnage each of flat plates made from the usual slabs, my belt-plates when will provide blanks for electric tube welding which will cut welding end-scrap losses to a previously unheard of low value, of vital importance to the pipe manufacturer.

The substantial elimination of scaling should produce plates and sheets, which, though hotrolled, are remarkably free from surface blemishes, and very smooth.

All these points represent important manufacturing advantages, which in their aggregate represent quite an advance in theart, and a considerable cut in costs.

It is believed that the general mode of operation of the several elements of'my mill and its associated equipment described herein, will be my invention appertains, without-elaborate description thereof, and such further explanation is therefore eliminated, in the interest of brevity, and in view of the rather lengthy presentation already given.

Y While I have herein illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, and alternative constructions of certain parts thereof, it will be understood that moderate changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from either the spirit of my invention, or the scope of my broader claims As an indication of the enormous gain in tonnage incident to this method of rolling, as compared with the old single-stand plate mills of usual type, it may be stated that, whereas 60 tons of 1' sheet product per 20-hour day is a good output for one of the latter mills, the mill of my invention is capable of about 1200 tons output in the same period, on the same thickness of product.

The ring-ingots I'propose to use are much heavier than the flat-slabs usedby customary mills, and the ready maintenance of initial rolling temperatures by my heated pit permits far greater rolling speeds and reduction percentages per'pass, and also reduces the usual plate overweight allowance due to spring of the rolls, since this springing is far less in the case of the hotter sheet, allowing the sheets to come through more uniformly to accurate gauge, with consequent saving of material. a

But although especially adapted to the hot rolling process, my mill may also be used equally well for cold rolling, without heat in the mill-pit,

if 'so desired. As my new roll, Figures 20 and 21, has been made the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial #682,581, filed July 28th, 1933, it does not appear in the present clainis, but has been shown-in orderto round out the presentation of the mill as a whole.

In connection with Figure 83 only, it should be noted that at the point where smaller guide- 4 channel I35 takes off to the side from its vertical position, as perhaps better indicatedin the eleanyone skilled in the art to which vation thereof shown on Figure 6, the wider portion of complete guide channel must be cut through on one side, just sufficiently to let the shaft mounting roll I35 pass therethrough. This slot is sufliciently narrow, however, to permit the large rolls-18,131, and I38 to easily bridge it, when they pass by here later on. Below the lower track junction point with I35, the vertical guidechannel will present the section shown in Figure 8, including the two steps, as brought out by the dotted additions to Figures 8A and 8B, incorporated therein in order to give the horizontal placement of the respective channels.

. What I claim is:

'1. In a continuous belt rolling mill, the combination comprising a plurality of substantially parallel and closely spaced work-rolls, powerdriving means for said rolls and including a readily disconnectible coupling member providing drive connection to one thereof, weight balancing means on the said coupling member, a roll withdrawing carriage attached to the disconnectible roll at opposite end thereof, and an automatic roll clamping means mounted upon said roll withdrawing carriage.

2. In a continuous belt rolling mill, the combinationcomprising a plurality of parallel workrolls, a pair of spaced mounting housings therefor, a belt runway adjacent said housings, a power-progressed belt tensio -drum operative longitudinally of said belt runway, transverse and longitudinal guiding means for said tension drum, and including means for transverse withdrawal of said tension-drum near mill end of runway. 3. In a continuous belt rolling mill, the combination comprising a pair of spaced mill housings, a plurality of substantially parallel powerdriven work-rolls a power-operated roll'withdrawal and re-inserting means operatively connected permanently to one of saidwork-rolls, a power-driven ring-ingot transporting and entering means operative transverse to axis-of one of said work-rolls, andcontaining a ring-ingot liftmeans operative to cen tre ring-ingot with roll axis substantially, a track for said ring-ingot transporting means attached I permanently to inside faces of said housings and which substantially spans; the belt rollingspace in mill, and a mill entering live-roll table of the over-head type and mounted to provide suitable clearance for said ring-in 'ot transporting means over said track.-

4. In a continuous belt} ;ollingmill, the combination comprising a plurality'of parallel powerdriven work-rolls, a millghlousing mounting said work-rolls, a belt rlmway adjacent said rolls, and a belt tension-drum progresslble by power along said runway, including drum diverting guide means positioned to automatically withdraw said drum from said runway on approach to said rolls and re-enter the same on the reverse motion.

5. In a continuous belt rolling mill, the combination comprising a pair of parallel mill workrolls, a roller mounted roll-withdrawing carriage operatively connected permanently with one of said work-rolls, a precision-throw device connected to said carriage to give a precise longitudinal travel thereto during roll withdrawal and reinserting operations, and an automatically operable positive roll-brake functionable by the rollwithdrawing carriage just after start of its withdrawing stroke, stantialy at end of the return of roll into mill, a cam to close and open said brake being included herein.

mounted-between said housings,

and automatically releasable sub 

